All About Tax

Net Income vs. Gross Income Gross income is the total amount a worker is paid before any required or voluntary deductions are made. Net income, also called “take home pay,” is the amount a person receives when he cashes or deposits his check. It is the remaining amount after deductions are made.

Required Payroll Deductions By law, employers must pay taxes deducted from employee paychecks. The most common taxes are federal and state, and sometimes cities have their own local taxes. In addition, employees have to pay a Social Security Tax (FICA), and Medicare tax contribution with each paycheck.

Voluntary Payroll Deductions Health Insurance Retirement Savings Union Dues Charitable Contributions

What are taxes? Taxes are required contributions to state revenue, levied by the government on personal income and business profits or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions.

State & Federal Income Tax

Social Security The Social Security tax is also called the FICA tax. (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) Social Security taxes provide the following benefits for employees and their dependents: retirement benefits benefits for the dependents of retired workers benefits for the disabled and their dependents

Medicare The Medicare tax is used to provide medical benefits for certain individuals when they reach age 65. Workers, retired workers, and the spouses of workers and retired workers are eligible to receive Medicare benefits upon reaching age 65.

Other Taxes Property tax Sales tax Gasoline tax Local/City taxes

What is our tax money used for? Bridges Road maintenance Research Education Armed services, national defense, veterans, and foreign affairs Retirement income for elderly Social programs Physical, human, and community development Law enforcement Interest on the national debt

Tax Costs Figure the sales tax in the following scenarios. On a piece of scratch paper, write your answers AND explain why it is critical to include tax when planning your budget and spending. If a CD costs $15.00 and the tax is 7.5%, what is the final cost?

You and your friends receive a lunch bill for $22.50 before tax is included. The tax in your state is 8%. What is the total cost when the tax is included?

Which would cost more…a pair of earrings priced at $28.00 with a 7% tax, or a set of posters at $29.00 with a 5.5% tax?

The class trip is going to cost each of the fifty students $ If tax is 5%, what is the total cost for the entire class?

Tax Forms W-4 I- 9 W EZ

W4 You use W-4 Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate Form to establish your withholding allowances for Federal income taxes.

W4 Line 5 is where you write your withholding allowances. Usually a number between 0 and 7. Higher # = less $ withheld Lower # = more $ withheld Less chance of tax return. Greater chance of tax return.

I-9

I9 An I-9 Form is the Employment Eligibility Verification Form required by the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) to verify your identity and your eligibility to work. All employees must complete this form and provide valid original identifications. You are not eligible for pay until Payroll Services receives a satisfactory I-9.

W-2 Form W-2 reflects all taxable wages you received during the calendar year and all taxes withheld from those wages. The form serves as an annual report that enables you to file your personal income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service.

1040 EZ Similar to the 1040 income tax form, 1040EZ is a faster and easier way to file your taxes. This form is only eligible for people with income less than $50,000 and interest income of $400 or less.

Guided Demonstration

W4